At 3: 20 this morning the crew from Station 8 was dispatched to Chester Pike and Lincoln Ave for a fuel leak from a vehicle in the DeFillipio Bros. lot. Rescue 8 arrived to find a two car MVA with one vehicle resting on top of the other. Hazards were mitigated and the crews from the Rescue and Engine stood by for fire protection while the tow truck removed the vehicle from it's position on top of the other. The crews went available shortly before 5am.

Around 2030hrs the 48 box assignment was struck bringing Companies 48, 7, 8, and 12 to the rear 31 Industrial Highway for the building fire. Engine 48-2 was first on the street and advised by Fireboard that PD was on location with smoke showing. As Engine 8 went responding with a crew of 7, Engine 48-2 went on location with smoke showing from a one story commercial garage, hit the plug out front, laid into the rear, and established "The 291 command". As Engine 8 arrived, Firefighter T. Buddy and Chief J. Simmonds picked up the hydrant. As the engine crew proceeded to the rear, command gave to order to force a door to gain access into the garage. Once in the rear the crew assisted Engine 48-2 with stretching an 1 3/4" hand line and Firefighters M. Impirato and J. Kohlbrenner forced entry into a metal door. Once access was gained to the building the crews were surprised to find a minimal amount of fire by a garage door and a heavy smoke condition throughout. Lieutenant C. Huber had the Interior Command. The garage door was opened and knockdown and overhaul of the fire was performed. The engine crew then searched the building for any other possible fire. Once none was found, the building was ventilated. Crews then took up and went available.

Tonight the crew conducted some roof operations on an acquired structure in town. Basic roof ventilation was the main focus tonight. The crew used the following equipment: 24ft and 14ft ladders, echo chain saw, 2 flat head axe, 1 hallagan bar and 1 roof hook. The crew conducted 2 hours of solid ventilation hands on practice and all involved got a renewed respect for this vital fire ground operation.

Tonight the Rescue headed down to Leedom for a joint vehicle rescue drill. The crews were confronted with an MVA with fire and multiple entrapments. Tac 70 arrived first to find a flammable liquid fire at the rear of the vehicle, followed closely by Rescue 8. The Tac crew made short work of the fire and the Rescue crew started the extrication efforts. Three victims where in and around the car and while Rescue 8's crew worked to remove them, Tac 70's crew had fire protection. The fire was suppressed, the vehicle stabilized, hazards secured, access granted, all four doors removed, roof removed, dash displaced, seats removed and vehicle lifted. During the course of events the crew split up into teams and both Departments worked in unison. As the drill progressed the hood and trunk where also taken and 70 got there Holmatro system in service. As you would expect a good time was had by all!
*Check out our "IN ACTION" section for a video!!

Tonight the crew headed down to the training center to use the SCBA maze. The crew put in 2 1/2 hours of solid training inside the county's mobile scba maze trailer. Crews were broken up into teams and navigated the course. Inside the trailer crews were confronted with total darkness, confined spaces, steps, holes in floor, inclines, declines, walls, and general scba mayhem. During the course of the night there were a few surprises such as, entanglement hazards, lost firefighters needing assistance, loud noise levels, etc. After the hands on portion crew gather for a post drill critique. A good time was had by all, but more importantly, good training was had by all!

 Tonight Engine 8 ventured down to the training center for a live burn drill hosted by Co. 18 (Folsom).  Company 8 was joined by Air-bank 70 (Leedom) and Amb. 67 (Woodlyn) for the live fire training. Engine 8 was assigned the R.I.T. functions. There were four burn scenarios conducted, two of which incorporated a Firefighter down. Engine 8's crew performed all the usual R.I.T. functions. In our two "live" R.I.T. scenarios, the crew received "MAYDAY" calls for a Firefighter lost in the basement. In the first "live" scenario, the Firefighter was unconscious when found and his pak converted and then carried up the two flights of steps. In the second scenario for us, we found the lost and disoriented Firefighter, who suddenly became unconscious and removed him through the closest exit. 
As you would expect, ladders where placed, size up and walk around conducted, a safety-accountability officer assigned to the C.P. and all the other "routine" R.I.T. practices were performed. We had a great time and enjoyed the realistic training. Thank you to Folsom Fire Co. for the invite. We really did love the drill!
We must apologize for the poor photos, everybody was working and no one was able to take quality pics. Sorry
 

Tonight the crew ventured back down to "The Willows" in Tinicum Twp. Once again Rapid Intervention Team operation was the topic.
This weeks training was similar to last weeks, just with an increased level of difficulty.  The crew arrived to find a Firefighter down below grade with collapse and declaring a Mayday. The crew laddered the flat roof on side "b" , made their way across the roof, entered the window, began debris removal, started the tunneling operation. While all this was going on Command was in radio contact with the downed Firefighter and the balance of the crew was setting up a tool cache and planning a secondary attack. The crew was split up into tasks and teams and multiple operations commenced. The first group had to make their way through the collapse at the top of the stairs and the second group flanked them via multiple wall breaches. Once the stair way was opened up the crew located the downed Firefighter, removed the collapse from on top of him, converted his air, and began removal operations. The collapse was cleared in the stairwell and the Firefighter was pulled up and out onto the roof, packaged and then, due to weather conditions ( heavy rains and lightning), the Firefighter was lowered down the stairs by a simple rope system and carried outside.

The past 24 hour period has been a very active one for the crew from Station 8. 11 calls were logged: besides the R.I.T. run to Darby for the working building fire and the cover-up to Parkside, we ran 3 gas leaks, 1 wires call, 4 building fires, and 1 mva with injuries.
We also had our monthly Company meeting last night as well.

At just before 7am this morning, Engine 8 was dispatched to cover up Station 45(Parkside) while they were operating at a fire two blocks from their station. The crew from Engine 8 stood by at Station 45 for almost two hours before being released.

Shortly before 1pm today, Engine 8 was dispatched for the RIT  assist to Company 04(Darby) on the building fire at 1022 Tyler Ave. RIT 8 Stood-by for about an hour and a half while crews worked to extinguish the blaze.

 On Sunday May 18 members of RIT 45 headed out to Cliften to do training with members of RIT 09, RIT 08, & Sta. 34. Deputy Chief D. Gallagher (08-9A) put together the day of training after a RIT OPS class fell thou. Thanks to all the State & County Instructors that gave up there time for this training

Story taken from 45's web site, some how this story slipped through the cracks....please forgive us. We feel it was a story that should be told.  It was a great drill!
 

 

R.I.T. operations were the topic on hand tonight, and the Willows were the drill grounds. Crews were confronted with a Firefighter down with collapse. Crews laddered the building, crossed the roof, entered the window and "tunneled" down to locate and extricate the Firefighter. The boys where tasked with digging, debris removal, comm. I.C.S, patient packaging and finally a rope and ladder system for final removal. This was a one-way in, one-way out scenario, and the team had to bring the downed Firefighter out the way they came in. The crew had to enter the window, clear the debris in front of the steps, crawl down through the collapse, clear more debris at the base of the stairs, dig a little more, do an air pak change over, package the patient, pull him up through the collapsed stairs, out the window, across the roof, down the ladder.

The EMS Division is proud to announce that both Engine 8 and Rescue 8 have attained recertification as Quick Response Service (QRS) units. The QRS units are equipped and staffed in compliance with the PA Department of Health QRS Standards. These units are utilized for medical and trauma emergencies by starting treatment and stabilize patients until other EMS units arrive. The units have been placed in service to provide care and community relations at events and gatherings.

Recently , Chief Simmonds has upgraded the level of service to residents by having these units dispatched on high priority medical incidents.  

Special thanks to Tinicum Township EMS,Taylor EMS and DCMH EMS for providing supplies to bring the units into compliance. Also thanks to EMS Coordinator Pat O'Connell and EMS LT. Sean Gane for coordinating the required tasks and paperwork to maintain the certification.

Tonight at 2200, the building assignment was dispatched to POGUE MAHONES PUB, 910 Chester pk in Prospect Park. The box brought the fire companies from Prospect, Ridley park and Norwood. Crews quickly arrived and found a small fire in the ladies room, the exhaust fan and near by insulation had been  burning, but was now only smoldering. The crew pulled down the fan and disconnected it, checked the overhead for any extension, overhauled the area, disposed of the burning material and ventilated the building. This was a close call for 8's favorite watering hole, nice job by POGUES staff in quickly noticing the fire, fast notification and by securing the power. These actions likely saved the pub from considerable damage.

At 16:00 hrs Companies 7(Ridley Park) and 8 were dispatched to Chester Pike in front of the Ridley Park police station for wires down after the accident. 07-1 and Engine 8 arrived to find a single vehicle accident with a PECO pole down. EMS crews  attended to the driver while crews from 07-1 and Engine 8 handled fluid and debris control. Engine 8 went available after a short time.